Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-30
MRS. GILBERTS SKELETON.
Written for this paper.i

written Tor this paper.
Mrs Gilbert drew long breath of comfort
and content, as she stepped out of the door OF
the parsonage onto the vine trellised porch |
and looked up and down the village street, |
half sumbering in the soothing sun |
shine of an afternoon in early June. She
stopped q moment to breath in the fresh, de- |
licious air, that seemed TO cheer and purify |
the heart, as well as to invigorate the lungs.
Then she tiipped lightly down the steps, glanc-
ing smilingly at the roses and violets blooming
OH each side of the walk. After she went out of
the gate, she half turned and looked back at
the house, and with a tender little motion
threw kiss to her husband, who stood at the
window watching her as she went up the
street in and out OF the shadows that lined the
walk. AS soon as she was out of sight he re-
turned to his study, with a keen sense of hap
piness and content with himself and his sur
roundings. The breeze blew softly into tn,
window and rustled the sheets Of paper, as b,
sat down again to his half finished sermon.
The hum OF the bees and the mellifluent wilt.
irrational song of the cat bird foated into the
window. When he bent over the table and
tried to compose his thoughts, the vision of
his wifes trim little figure walking up the
street still filtered and vibrated before his
| eyes
| Mrs Gilbert's mood was a happy one that
| afternoon. 1t was SO electrifying to breathe
the fragrant air, and the old village seemed
| so calm, like an old man of wise and virtuous
| life enjoying nap after dinner. And the
| sight of her husband looking after her so
eagerly, when lie thought she would not see
him, had given the last perfecting touch to
her calm happiness of mind. The little cot
tage with its vine covered porch and pictur-
esque gables, surrounded by the little stretch
| OF lawn and a few trees, had never looked so
beautiful to her. She felt it was her home; ;
that there with him she was safe and happy.
| Mrs. Gilbert crossed the shady park in the
center Of the village, in which stood the old
court house, and passed few stores on the
street beyond. She expected to make some
calls on the other side of the village. Beyond
the stores on the corner was the tavern" In
front of it number Of men lounged in the
shade, most of them in chairs, which were
tipped back against the building. Mrs. Gil
bert was still in her happy revery as sh,
passed them. A voice from the little group
caught her ear. She glanced up affrightedly
then she hurried on, her face pale and her
heart in her throat. Where had he come
from? she asked herself; why had he come
here! She walked on faster and faster; the
joyousness had suddenly fled from her face
and her heart. She passed Mrs. Sanburn's,
where she had intended to stop. but she did
not Sc the house; she saw nothing but that
face. and heard nothing but that voice.
On the very outskirts of the village Mrs.
Gilbert came to herself. She stopped mo
ment and tried to think calmly and collect
eddy. No, no, he could not have seen her
he could not have known her as she was now
1t seemed so long ago, and yet it was not SC
long in years Then the fierce thought burst
upon her: "What is he doing here? He is uI
to no good"
}, She turned to the right and started on he,
: way home through another street. She al
. last gained complete mastery over herself
: and she shut her lips with determined air
j She felt strong in her consciousness of having
. really wronged no one, but the next momen
: she shuddered at the power which this mar
held in his hands to shatter her happiness
Il no, it was not so much her own happiness tina
u she thought Of as his, her husbands. The,
. again the question lowered threateningl
over her mind, had he seen her? What wa
N he here fort
At last she reached home, weak and trem
bling She opened the door softly SO as not t
disturb Mr.. Gilbert. and ran quickly upstair,
She threw herself upon the bed and burie
her ia in her hands, and her form shoe
with sobs, though she made no sound. A
IS length she fell asleep. When she awoke wit
y a start it seemed as if she had been asleep fc
:, hours, though in reality only few minute
- had passed. For time she sat dazed; the
- the song of the birds nd the breeze gentl
u toying with the curtains stirred for an instar
the happy peaceful feeling which had file
her heart early in the afternoon. But it die
out in an instant and she remembered all ths
had passed.
At supper Mr. Gilbert said:
"What is the matter, dear! Are you tire
xl,t2
when you started out today Pm afraid yo
walked too much"
"Yes, guess SO" replied Mrs. GilbeHt, witt
out looking up, "Pve headache I Guess
won't go down to prayer meeting to-nigh
Do YOU care"
"Why, of course not, but don't like
leave you here all alone, dear"
Evening came down soft and slowly. tt
q air was full of the fragrance of the dawnil
&C. summer; the twilight was soothing. Nj
as Gilbert sat down on the front step after b.
as husband started for church. How bitter
s. she regretted that she had never told him
3 of her past life. She had not concealed an
'ss thing for her own sake, but for his She b.
r. thought the old life was dead and she did II
as wish to cast a shadow on his happiness
Oh bringing up the ghosts of things that BIZ
m been, but were not now. She had always
Ill lieved that she had done right until now, al
n. now she was heart sick at the thought
what might be. Mrs. Gilbert sat there
long time, thinking over these things, till
til grew quite dark and the fire flies fit
RS hither and thither under the trees.
en- "Althy"
~. The word was uttered in hoarse whisp
el- from the open door behind Mrs. Gilbert. s
nd did not start to her feet; she scarcely move
us She felt cold and rigid.
as that YOU, Jack Dimonsr she gasped
ayes, it's me. Get up and come in here
nd want to talk with you Hurry up. hal
an got no time to fool"
Mrs. Gilbert arose and went into the hou
. She followed the man into one of the ba
"a rooms. He carefully closed the blinds a
then struck a light. He was a keen, sha
I faced, well dressed fellow, with dark co
plexion and a slight n,ustache; he looked 1
| unlike commercial traveller. But across
face was a fieeting expression that showed
lurking capacity for villainy.